Zoning Committee Approves Multiple Land Sales

Resolution 080271 would authorize the land sale of nineteen City of Milwaukee (RACM) properties to create three mixed-use developments within the Haymarket Square neighborhood. These three development would consist of the Sixth Street Market, Vineyard Place, and Walnut Hill. Sixth Street Market will contain an approximately 5,000 square foot food and convenience market. Vineyard Place will be a two-story building consisting of five live-work condominiums. Walnut Hill will be a four-story mixed-use building with first floor retail and on upper floors a mixture of office and residential units. Although the purchase prices was some $100,000 under the original asking price set in the City of Milwaukee’s Request for Proposal (RFP) this project is actually the combination of two separate RFP responders so it appears to be a win-win situation for the City of Milwaukee and all interested parties. Further this project is targeting a 30% Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) goal which is higher than the City of Milwaukee’s guidelines for similar projects that utilize public financing. This resolution was approved by the committee and will now go before the full Common Council.

Alderman Tony Zielinski brought forward resolution 051036 at the request of the majority of property owners in the area to create a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone in Bay View along South Shore Drive. The intent of the overlay zone is to preserve the neighborhood in its current state which this resolution will achieve but it does appear to have significant impacts on both development and environmental issues. Impacts of this resolution include the prevention of new buildings higher than forty feet, prevention of flat roofs which may make developing green roofs more difficult and require a Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA) request, and has limited the maximum lot coverage to 25% of the parcel which will severely limit density. This resolution was approved by the committee and will now go before the full Common Council.

Movement may finally be occurring towards completion of the Marine Terminal Loft’s Riverwalk. Resolution 080267 updated the agreement with the City of Milwaukee regarding the portion that would connect to MIAD. Further it was pointed out that the Mandel Group has received a “concrete” or legitimate bid regarding construction costs which should allow the project to move forward. This resolution was approved by the committee and will now go before the full Common Council.

Resolution 080195 which relates to storm water management regulations and that had been refered to the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee after approval at the Public Works Committee was held to the call of the chair with no discussion.